Bynum's inspired play continues, and Lakers follow

The Lakers' Andrew Bynum is defended by Orlando's Dwight Howard in the first half Monday. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 16

The Lakers' Andrew Bynum and Orlando's Ryan Anderson, left, and Hedo Turkoglu battle for a rebound in the first half Monday. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 16

The Lakers' Andrew Bynum tries to put up a shot against Orlando's Ryan Anderson in the first half Monday. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 16

The Laker Girls entertain the crowd at Staples Center on Monday night. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 16

Actress Emily Browning, right, attended the NBA basketball game between the Lakers and the Orlando Magic on Monday night. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 16

Actor Robert Downey Jr. and his wife, Susan Levin, watch the NBA game between the Lakers and the Orlando Magic at Staples Center on Monday. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 16

Actor Jack Nicholson enjoys himself during the NBA basketball game between the Lakers and the Orlando Magic at Staples Center on Monday night. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 16

The Lakers Pau Gasol tries to drive around Orlando's Brandon Bass in the first half Monday. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 16

The Lakers' Kobe Bryant tries to put up a shot against Orlando's Dwight Howard during the first half Monday. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 16

Pau Gasol tries to put up a shot against Orlando's Ryan Anderson in the first half Monday. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 16

The Lakers' Shannon Brown draws a foul from Orlando's Chris Duhon in the second half Monday. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 16

Brown goes up for a shot against Orlando's Chris Duhon, left, and Dwight Howard in the second half. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 16

Orlando's Jason Richardson and the Lakers' Matt Barnes, left, and Lamar Odom battle for the ball in the second half of the Lakers' 97-84 victoy over the Magic. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 16

Orlando's Dwight Howard is pressured by the Lakers' Pau Gasol in the second half Monday. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 16

The Lakers' Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher celebrate a basket during the second half Monday. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 16

The Lakers' Pau Gasol tries to put up a basket against Orlando's Brandon Bass during the first half Monday. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

The Lakers' Andrew Bynum is defended by Orlando's Dwight Howard in the first half Monday. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

LOS ANGELES – It's not the flipping switch that turns on the juice for the Lakers.

It's the phone that delivers the wake-up call to Andrew Bynum.

You can't be a barometer if you don't respond to high pressure, and Bynum continued his march toward redemption against Orlando's Dwight Howard on Monday night.

He wound up with a career-high 18 rebounds and the Lakers held the Magic 16 points below their average in a 97-84 victory.

"He's doing some unbelievable things," Derek Fisher said. "Everybody asks why we've been so much better (9-1) since the All-Star break. It starts with him."

The best thing that's happened to the Lakers is obviously the end of that Grammy trip, when they could finally unzip the bags, collapse into the recliner and say, "We lost to who?"

The second-best thing is that Bynum seemed to grasp and sometimes even embrace the concept that he moves the Lakers' needle, although he got a little reminder from Coach Phil Jackson.

"The way he's playing lately, he's accepted it," said Joe Smith, the 15-year veteran who has changed teams 13 times, and knows the NBA flow.

"He controls the paint defensively. He commands attention inside. When you have a guy like that, that's always a good thing, especially in the playoffs. A young guy like that, who's already been in the playoffs, he helps us out a lot."

"Size is an issue for everybody who plays against them," Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said. "That's one of the big things you have to overcome with them, because they have Bynum (Pau) Gasol and (Lamar) Odom up front."

But being "up front" isn't the same as playing "out front,' and that's the reason some of us were intrigued with the idea of Carmelo Anthony.

That's also the reason some of us aren't general managers in the NBA, because Bynum, when he unleashes himself, is a more unusual and critical player than Anthony. There are more point compilers, after all, than there are 23-year-old 7-footers who like to nuzzle up against the glass.

Bynum was disadvantaged by Dwight Howard on Feb. 13, when the Magic won and Howard his 13 of 16 shots.

Bynum was different Monday night, and so was the game.

He stuffed in the remnants of Howard's blocked shot (Gasol). He blocked Howard's shot and then grabbed it. He blocked another shot late in the third quarter and got an affectionate kick in the rump from Lamar Odom.

In the second quarter Bynum ranged past the sideline to save a turnover and fling the ball to Odom.

That's all the Lakers and the patrons of the Paperclip Palace ask of Bynum. They want movement, knowing that it will lead to numbers, and when Bynum finally sat down and the Jumbotron showed his face, the well-dones came down from every section.

At halftime he had 12 rebounds and four blocks. Howard had eight and two.

Bynum came into Monday with three consecutive triple-doubles for the first time this season. And those were also his high-minute games of the season — 35, 35 and 37.

That, and the return of Matt Barnes, means the Lakers have become their better selves much quicker than any witness to the Cleveland loss on Feb. 16 could have imagined.

So, on Monday, could the Lakers prolong their renewal with Kobe Bryant sitting out with a bad ankle?

As they say in court, that question lacked foundation. Bryant would play and everybody, including Van Gundy, knew it.

The Lakers picked up Smith on Dec. 15 because, at the very least, they needed more size at practice. He has only played 32 minutes, over seven games.

But he has observed and analyzed what's around him, having seen it from the wrong end of the scoreboard for so long.

"I've watched this team for a long time," he said. "Every year people try to find a point of the season to write them off. But at the All-Star break everybody got a chance to rest their legs a little bit and got rejuvenated."

The top seed in the West still isn't realistic for the Lakers, but they didn't have it in 2001 and, in a four-game Western final, captured the Spurs, their villages, their foodstuffs and their munitions.

"The one thing that has surprised me is that Coach is really open with everybody," Bynum said. "He coaches, but at the same time he lets the players give their input, ad it's a veteran team that's been through the wars. That's probably one reason he's been so successful."

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.